Teen ran red light before kids hit: cops
Tears were shed in the courtroom after an 18-year-old university student who allegedly fled the scene after hitting three schoolchildren was awarded bail.
Vansh Khanna, 18, appeared at Manly Local Court on Friday accompanied by his aunt and sister. His sister was visibly emotional and hunched into her arms after magistrate Robyn Denes made her decision.
Police allege the Indian foreign national drove his car through a red light at Crows Nest on Sydney’s north shore, hitting three schoolchildren, before allegedly driving away from the scene. He was arrested at 4pm in the nearby suburb of Lane Cove, about half an hour after the alleged incident occurred.
Emergency services were called to the scene at the Pacific Highway near Falcon Street in Crows Nest at about 3.30pm on Thursday.
Police were told three boys, two aged 12 and one aged 13, were knocked to the ground by the car while crossing the road to a green pedestrian signal.
All three boys sustained leg and head injuries.
The court was told Mr Khanna was driving his sister’s Honda Accord when the alleged collision happened. He had only been living in Sydney for three months before Thursday’s alleged hit and run and is studying a Bachelor of IT at Macquarie University.
Mr Khanna is facing seven charges, including dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, two counts of causing bodily harm by misconduct, in charge of a motor vehicle, fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing grievous bodily harm, fail to stop and assist after impact cause injury and proceed through red traffic light.
Ms Denes said that while Mr Khanna faced a number of serious allegations, the court didn’t share the belief he was at further risk to the public. She also took into account his age and lack of criminal history.
As part of Mr Khanna’s bail conditions, he will need to surrender his passport and licence and will have to remain at his Lane Cove home that he shares with his sister. He will also need to report to Chatswood Police Station daily.
His aunt also placed a $10,000 cash surety to ensure his bail.
Mr Khanna will next appear in court on Thursday, June 8.
All three children taken to hospital
The three schoolchildren involved in the alleged hit and run continue to recover in hospital.
They were treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before the 12-year-olds were taken to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead in a stable condition.
The 13-year-old boy was taken to Sydney Children’s Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Another schoolboy who witnessed the incident said there was “a bit of a bang” followed by cars beeping.
A witness told 9 News the incident involved “absolutely crazy” scenes as ambulances and police cars lined the street in response.
“There were police directing traffic everywhere, ambulances everywhere and police accompanying the ambulances to the hospital,” he said.
